Kevin Rogers

Mansfield swimming coach Glenn Smith has been awarded his second Mussabini medal for his success with Paralympic swimmers Ollie Hynd MBE and Charlotte Henshaw.

Glenn, the swim coach and development Officer for Mansfield District Council and coach for the Nova Centurion swimming club, was presented with medal at The UK Coaching Awards 2016 in London on Tuesday.

The Mussabini medal is presented to all the gold medal winning coaches after each Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is named after Sam Mussabini from the 1908 Olympic Games, who was the coach to Olympic gold medallist Harold Abrahams. Sam Mussabini was considered to have been Britain’s first professional coach.

Glenn said: “I’m very honoured to receive this award for a second time as I had the privilege of being awarded my first Mussabini Medal in 2012.

“Ollie and Charlotte’s achievements in the summer were incredible and it was a privilege to have helped them achieve their goals.

“ They are true ambassadors of their sport in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and the UK.”

He has been coaching in Mansfield for the past 20 years and recently was awarded the Freedom of the District honour along with Ollie and Charlotte at a ceremony held at the Civic Quarter on 10 November 2016. He was also awarded the British Swimming Coaches Association Para Coach of the year award in September for the second consecutive year. Mansfield Mayor Kate Allsop, said: “After awarding Glenn with the freedom of the district earlier this month, we are exceptionally proud that he has also been awarded the Mussabini medal too.”

Glenn successfully coached Ollie Hynd MBE to winning two golds and one silver medal along with two world records at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, and also coached fellow Paralympian Charlotte Henshaw to a bronze medal.

His guidance and support also saw Sam Hynd achieve Paralympic gold at the Beijing Games in 2008.

Glenn also trained Olympic medallist Rebecca Adlington during her early development years before she went onto take double gold in 2008 and double bronze in 2012.